We want better video games. We want a better understanding of video games.
Sometimes we need to look were we did not expect to find answers. At other times we look were answers are hard to find e. g. narratology.
I would like any serious attempt at understanding games to at least having read Homo Ludens by professor Johan Huizinga and Tree and Leaf by professor J. R. R. Tolkien. In these works we do find entirely new theories and methods of thinking about game and fiction. Using these ideas we might even make better video games.

Furthermore, I want you to read The Nature of Gothic by John Ruskin. In here we find a way of thinking architectural design suitable for video games.